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Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 33, 8 February 1910, Page 4

The following is Mr D. C. Bates' weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day: "Moderate to strong northerly winds, freshening. Expect unsettled and cloudy weather, with warm and humid conditions. Glass fall slowly."

"One ratepayer that is satisfied,'' was the remark made at the Grey Lynn Council Inst night from a gentleman thanking the Council for what they had done, and expressing the hope that the Mayor and Councillors would long remain in office. "I wonder if he is pulling our leg?" asked one doubting Thomas, but was informed that the thanks were really genuine, whereupon some of the Councillors applauded. Giving evidence before the Nautical Court inquiring into the stranding of the Kaipara, Charle3 Vince Houghton yesterday stated that for 24 years he had been manager in Aucklund for tho New Zealand Shipping Companj-. In reply to Mr. Cotter, witness said he could not give an idea within £10,000 of the cost of the casualty to tho Company. It would run into not less than £ 10,000 or £20,000. The damage to cargo, roughly, was £85,000 to £00,000. The"butter carpro alone had depreciated by £25.000. Witness could not supply the Court with any information as to insurances so far as the ship wag concerned. That information was held by the London office. The insurance of cargo was also outside witness' knowledge. Putting the damage to cargo at .€35,000 and including the damage to ship, and other losses, witness computed the total loss to be about £ 125,000. The inquiry was adjourned until Wednesday afternoon, when counsel will address the Court.

The members of South African ConI tingents in ths Auckland district intend ■to hold a meeting this week to decide , what steps shall be taken in connection with the visit of Lord Kitchener. It is proposed, with the balance of the funds subscribed for the Seddon memorial, to present an org.ni to the Veterans' Home, and efforts nre to be made to get Lord Kitchener to make 'the presentation. Should this be agreed upon by thp distinguished visitor, the members of the contingent intern! to esenrt him on horseback to and from the Veteran*' Home. Of course, nothing definite can bo decided until Lord Kltehoney'e wishae havo been i ascertained.

I Mr. T. L. Thompson got a home thrnst lin last night at the meeting of the Grey Lynn Borough Council. Mr. G. J. Garland had been explaining the clauses of the Streets Committee seriatim and at length, and then Mr. Thompson got up and said it was fair to state that Mr. Garland had not been present at the meeting of the committee, and was only speaking from what information he liad got at the meeting that night. Mr. Garland explained that although not present at the meeting of the committee, still he had viewed the places mentioned in the nport.

A Press Association telegram frora Wellington cays: —"Fifteen new steel plates, each 27ft. by 6ft., and weighing two tons each, are being imported from Australia for Messrs. Hutchison and Campbell's contract for repairing the Kaipara. About six other plates in the hull are to be cut and straightened, and some new frames put in. The shipping company will pay dock dues (£OO a day) during progress of repairs, which are to l>e completed in 42 days, with a, penalty of £00 a day for any further time tho work occupies. The contract price is £0000. Some experts will go up from Wellington for the job. The contract does not include anything relating to repairs to the holds, or painting, or recaulking." On the completion of the repairs to the hull, which work will occupy about 4i: days, tenders will be called for the repairing of the insulation, etc., in tanks Nos. 1 and 2, and the repainting of thii vessel, and in the event of tlie prices being considered excessive, the work will de deferred until the arrival of the vessel in London.

The manager of the Asbestos Company, Limited (LMotueka), reports that since his last letter work has proceeded a little quicker at the Cobbing Bhed creek. The average now is .'55 cubic yards (loose measurement) daily, equal to 48 tons. When the drill arrives 80 tons daily should be got. Asbestos veins are showing up in several places in the face of the cut. The longest fibre is Jin in length, and it is improving as the drive advances.

The following programme will ibe played by the Xewton Brase Band in the Albert Park on Wednesday evening, the Oth inst: —March, "Stentorian" (Greenwood); Cornet-Solo "Babylon" (Adams); Selection, "The Water Carrier" (Cheri.btin); Intermezzo, ''In the Twilight" (Rimmer); Overture, "Prince and Peasant." (Round); March, "The Royal Rifles," (Dnlby).

Recalcitrant firemen of the Star of Xew Zealand contributed to the gaiety of nations and the troubles of the master mariner on Wednesday afternoon, says the "Post." Report had it that before embarking for Lyttelton they stipulated that a certain officer should

"shout" for them. The officer declined the invitation with emphasis, so, not to be deprived of their beverage, the gay firemen decided to enjoy their own company at a favourite rendezvous for refreshment. The ship's time for sailing had passed, but all efforts to coax the men on board failed. It was "too 'ot" to work without a cooling draught. The steamer was taken out into the harbour, and there she lay at anchor unt'l, armed with the needful warrants, a troop of gallant officers secured the "strayed revellers" and escorted .them victoriously in a lauin-h to their familiar fires.

The question of representation 'occupied the attention of the Hospital Board yesterday afternoon for some time. The elections under the new system take place on the 10th prox., and Dr. Valintine, In-spector-General, wrote, asking the opinion of the Board as to what would constitute a workable Board—the Act saying that the newly-constituted board shall consist of not les3 than 8 nor more than 20 members. The opinions of members were various, some inclining to the view that the growth of certain districts entitled them to increased representation, and that in consequence the personnel of the Board should be increased accordingly. Finally, on the motion of the chairman, it was decided to recommend that the new Board should consist of not less than 11 and not more than I- members.

Something of a collision occurred at the meeting of the Hospital Board yesterday afternoon between the Chairman "(Mr. C. D. Grey) and Mr. M. J. Coyle. Mr. Knight had been making some inquiries as to the present dietary at the Costley Home, which seemed in some way to reflect upon the responsible Committee, and the Chairman reproved him for what looked like Rn attack by one Committee upon another on a trivial matter which could easily have been answered by the Chairman of the Committee. Mr. Coyle, with some warmfh, desired to know if the Chairman included him. He wns included. Mr. Coyle began to protest, and, as two or three other members were also speaking, including Mr. Jenkin, Chairman of the impugned Committee, the atmosphere was pretty laden with words. The Chairman called Mr. Jenkin, but Mr. Coyle persisted. "Sit down, Sir; will you take your seat?" ordered the Chairman. "Very well, yes. I will take my seat, but I am not going to be talked to by you in this way]" returned the belligerent member, and presently, after a volley of withering glances at the Chairman, he rose and left the room, remaining outside during the remainder of the meeting. The discussion then returned to normal.

Tho engineer to the Christchurch Tramway Board, Mr. Scott Symington, has been granted leave by the Board to meet the epecial committee set up by the Invercargill Council to advise in the matter of a power scheme for the Invercargill tramways.

The Manawatu Golf Club's links on the ibanks of the Manawaitu River are among the properties threatened by immersion by the river, and the Golf CluT? has arranged' for a deputation to wait on the Borough Council to urge that a stopbank be maintained, and a report from the Government engineer be procured. '

John White and William Earle were struck by lightning while driving along Tareutta-road, a few miles from Wagga (N.S. Wales). Earle was only slightly touched, but White was rendered senseless for a time, though lie was able yesterday to leave the hospital for home. At the same time as the men were struck, lightning set fire to a stack of wheat hay in an adjoining paddock belonging to Robt. Beaver. The stack, which coi£ tainctl 06 tons, was destroyed.

The transformation of the Piako Swamp to the Hauraki Plains is a remarkable piece of Government enterprise affecting 90,000 acres of country. A full pr.ge plan, panoramic double page, and illustrated article descriptive of the .State's big task, make a series of striking pictures, and give an interesting insight into the work-s in this week's "Graphic." The number is largely devoted to what is undoubtedly one of the most important enterprises undertaken by the Government. Nothing so comprehensive and complete in its description of the works has yot been put before the public a* the "Graphic's" latest contribution to the expanding circle of its readers

A heated and protracted debate took place at the Political Labour League Conference at Sydney on. the simple proposition that all school children be provided with a midday meal by the State free of charge. Mr. Jabez Wright, in supporting the motion, said children when they went to school should have full stomachs, and many of them had not. "The parents of the children," he added, "may have plenty of food, but it is not properly cooked. Half the women of the country don't know how to cook a meal. (Laughter and dissent). If midday meals were provided by. the State, the children would have at least one well-co.oked meal a day, and learn how to cook it." Several delegates, including Mr 3. K. Dwyer, strongly opposed the motion, on the ground that it would amount to introducing an undesirable element of charity into school life, and held that the best way of ensuring that the children would be well fed was to see that their parents got a living wage. An amendment was subsequently carried, providing that school children requiring food be supplied by the State free of charge.

A circular has been issued by the Tourist Department to secretaries of acclimatisation societies, asking for particulars of any good baskets of trout taken in streams in their districts during the present season, giving the name of the stream and 01 the angler, and the number, species and weight of the fishi These particulars are required by the Department for inclusion in a booklet dealing with sport in New Zealand, which it is intended to publish and distribute at the Japanese-British Exhibition, to be held in London from May to October of this year. It is hoped that this information will help considerably to popularise the New Zealand trout streams with oversea anglere.

For some time past the Wellington police authorities have had suspicions of a certain place at Ngahauranga, and several times they made arrangements for a "stroke of war," but without success. On Sunday, however, it is stated that a considerable quantity of liquor vras found in two separate establishments in the prohibited area. The police raiding party were led by Sargeant Matheson and Mounted Constable Mullooly. Knowing from previous experience that they could not get into the premises without a good deal of trouble, the raiders disguised themselves as farm labourers and navvies, and took train to Petone, whence they walked to Xgahauranga. They were a really thirsty an-i dusty party by the time they reached their destination, and their appearance was such as to throw suspicion out of the minds of the occupier of the first premises called at. It is alleged that the callers drank "so heartily that the firet port of call -was "cleaned out," and an adjournment was then made to another source of supply. Court proceedings will follow in the course of a few days.

There were some extraordinary features in the evidence at the inquest on Major Henry William Saunders at Rata. He was well known, both through his command of the Cadet battalion and the interest he took in sporting matters (says the Rangitikei "Advocate"). He lived alone in a two-roomed hut at Rata for about sixteen years, was a member of the Rangitikei Rugby SubUnion, hon. secretary of the Rata School Committee, an exceedingly well-read man, and received remittances from Home. It came out at the inquest that Patrick O'Grady, railway surfaceman and Chairman of the Rata School Committee, suspected Saunders, and tvith his railway mates determined to watch him. John Murphy got up a tree for this purpose, and what O'Grady saw led to the railway men promptly catching Saunders and holding him till Constable Gray was got out from Hunterville. Saunders then said he wanted to go to his whare to change his clothes mid hand the school books over to Mr. O'Grady, and while there he said he was hungry and ate a piece of bread and butter, but the constable and the railway men declare that they watched him so closely that they do not think he could have got poison then unless he had a tabloid in his pocket. Saunders locked the door as O'Grady, Gray and he left the whare, handing the key to the constable, and as they made their way to the railway station, got over the railway gate .all right, but two chains from the whare began to stagger and collapsed, expiring in ten minutes. Constable Gray produced a number of letters showing that suicide was premeditated as far back as January 8, about which time two detectives visited Rata; also a confession that two cheques for £15 and £48, purporting to be signed by a resident of Rata, were both forgeries executed by Saunders. The Coroner found that deceased committed suicide at Rata by taking some unknown poison.

In the Waihi Police Court this morning a young man named Daniel Munn was charged with having furiously ridden a horse in Mam-street on Sunday afternoon, also with breaking-in and cruelly ill-treating the same animal. Accused pleaded "not guilty," and an adjournment was granted till Thursday morning.

Woolbrokers in Christchurch (says the "Lytteltbn Times") have no information in regard to a recent message, stating that a meeting of buyers in London, unanimously rejected the Colonial Wool Importers' Committee's suggestion that the draft allowance of a pound per hundredweight should be abolished. The subject has never been discussed by the Canterbury Association. The custom of making tbje allowance has' arisen on account of the fact that a bale of wool, in the course of handling in stores, ships' holds and other places, gains a certain quantity of dirt and material. The custom is a very ancient one, and it is thought that its abolition is improbable.

A cablegram from Borne on December 17 reported that the police had arrested an Australian named James O'Connor and John William Wood, of Shaftesiburyavenue, London, on a charge of attempting to too Mr. L. Y. Marcher, a tourist, from Montreal. Mr. Marcher, it appears, casually the prisoners, who pretended to be entrusted with a mission to deliver £SOO to the Pope, which they proposed to hand to him for sa.fe keeping. .Marcher accepted, and drew £000 of his own from the bank here to convince the prisoners of his solvency. The three assembled at the Cafe Aragno at noon, but O'Connor and Wood were recognised .by the waiters ac men who had recently flee-ced several tourists. The police were telephoned for, and arrested both men. In their possession was found a large sum of money, jewels, and precious etones, and the police claim to have arrested the leaders of a gang who have heen working siieces?fuliy of late in Rome on credulous English and American tourists.

Cummerbunds for summer wear, an attraotive item that looks well and weara well this weather. — Geo. Fowlds. — (Ad.)

The Parnell Borough Council last night received a letter from Mr T. B. Jaeobsen, architect, complaining, in reference to the accepted plan of the proposed library building for the borough, that previous to the opening of the plans the Council passed a resolution at the last moment that only those plana of two storeys be considered. There was no mention of a two-storeyed building only being considered in the invitation for designs, and he considered an injustice had been done to other competitors, who had wasted their time in making competitive plans. He suggested, therefore, that the competing architects be allowed to prepare plans of a two-storey structure, in keeping with the resolution that the building, when completed, shall not cost more than £2500, including architect's fees. 'After a brief discussion it waa decided, on the motion of Councillor Thomas: "That the letter of Mr T. B. Jacobeen be received, and that it be pointed oi*fc to him that on the conditions as to cost, etc, the construction of the building will be carried out." It was decided to ask the successful architect to provide a legal guarantee in due form that the building would not exceed £2500 to erect. The architect, Mr A. B. Herrold, in a letter of thanks to the Council, stated that he was prepared to have the work done, ait the present time, for £2500.

In the S.M. Court on Thursday las*, John 8. PetTicevich and Co., of Auckland, obtained judgment by default against Baldo (or Paul) Giljevieh, of Ngania/wahia, for £6 4/6 and costs. In our issue on that day the names were transposed, J. S. Petrkevich ibeing incorrectly named as the debtor.

On Friday last, Mr John Sutclifi, i settler and land agent at Otantma, suffered rather painful injuries as the result of a fall from an express train at Drurv. UnforUmately, Mr Sutcliff fell against ihe tablet post, which struck hi 3 face so heavily that his jawbone was fractured in two places, and three of Ma teeth were broken out. Possibly, also, one of the cheek - bones has been broken, but this his medical advisers have not been able to ascertain definitely. Mr Sutcliff has been brought to Auckland to undergo treatment in a private hospital.

There is evidently no dearth of men in Auckland anxioue for employment of a certain class. A boarding-house keeper in the city advertised yesterday for a handy man, stating in the advertisement that the man's services would be required for three or four days only. Within one hour 43 men of various ages applied at the house, and during the day some 60 men called and offered their services.